College Without High School - by Blake Boles (Paperback)

About the Book

Boles shows independent teens how to self-design their high school education by becoming unschooled. The guide explains how to fulfill college admission requirements by proving five preparatory results. The author offers several suggestions for life-changing, confidence-building activities that will demonstrate those results.

Book Synopsis

High school can be boring. High school curriculum can be frustrating and out of touch.

So what is the answer for young people whose creativity, bright ideas, and boundless energy are being stifled in that over-scheduled and grade-driven environment?

What would you do if you could go to college without going to high school? Would you travel abroad, spend late nights writing a novel, volunteer in an emergency room, or build your own company? What dreams would you be pursuing right now?

College Without High School shows how independent teens can self-design their high school education by becoming unschooled. Students begin by defining their goals and dreams and then pursue them through a combination of meaningful and engaging adventures.

It is possible to pursue your dreams, and gain admission to any college of your choice.

Boles shows how to fulfill college admission requirements by proving five preparatory results: intellectual passion, leadership, logical reasoning, background knowledge, and the capacity for structured learning. He then offers several suggestions for life-changing, confidence-building adventures that will demonstrate those results.

This intriguing approach to following your dreams and doing college prep on your own terms will be welcomed by students (and their parents).

From the Back Cover

Let's begin this book with a bold proposition: You're in high school, and it bores you to tears.

... an antidote to the over-scheduled, grade-driven, and sadly uncreative existence of most high-schoolers today .
-- Daniel H. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind and The Adventures Of Johnny Bunko

If you believe, as I do, that our time on earth is a grand gift not to be squandered, then buy this book for all the teenagers you love .
-- Grace Llewellyn, author of The Teenage Liberation Handbook

... concrete understanding and useful suggestions for Self Directed Learners of all ages, in or out of school.
-- Cafi Cohen, author of And What About College

What would you do if you could go to college without going to high school?

• travel abroad?
• spend late nights writing a novel?
• volunteer in an emergency room?
• build your own company?

College Without High School explains how independent teenagers can leave high school to pursue life-changing, confidence-building adventures-and still gain admission to competitive 4-year colleges and universities.

Featuring stories from real-life, college-admitted "unschoolers" and concrete advice on how to demonstrate the five preparatory results required for college admission --intellectual passion, leadership, logical reasoning, background knowledge, and the capacity for structured learning-- College Without High School offers a world of opportunity to teens frustrated by traditional schooling.

A fresh new voice on the school scene. You won't regret spending time with this book .
-- John Taylor Gatto, author of Dumbing Us Down , The Underground History of American Education and Weapons of Mass Instruction

Blake Boles switched from an astrophysics major at UC Berkeley to graduate cum laude with a degree in Alternative Schooling. He is founder and trip leader of Unschool Adventures, which offers innovative trips to teenage unschoolers. He lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit the book's website at CollegeWithoutHighSchool.com

Review Quotes

"Words fail me. This is the most inspiring, convincing, and practical case for self-directed learning that I've seen in many years. Mr. Boles draws on time management principles from the business world and on his own adventure-packed youth to map out a brilliantly simple way that people can live life to the fullest while also preparing masterfully for admission to college. If you believe, as I do, that our time on earth is a grand gift not to be squandered, then buy this book for all the teenagers you love, and watch as all manner of quests, discoveries, inventions, and miracles emerge."

- Grace Llewellyn, author of The Teenage Liberation Handbook: how to quit school and get a real life and education and Real Lives: Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go to School Tell Their Own Stories

"This splendid book is intended as a step-by-step guide, but can be read with profit by anyone interested in moral philosophy. Exceptionally clear, insightful, and lively, it will take its place as the definitive work on the subject."

- John Taylor Gatto, author of Dumbing Us Down , The Underground History of American Education , and Weapons of Mass Instruction

"Boles offers an antidote to the over-scheduled, grade-driven, and sadly uncreative existence of most high-schoolers today. It's time for teens to take control of their own education. Yes, they must learn the basics. Absolutely. But as Boles explains, self-motivated teens can cover those topics efficiently and free up more of their time for further learning. This book is a crucial guide for students and parents interested in replacing the old carrot and stick that's at the heart of today's education system with intrinsic motivation-selfdirectednessand autonomy that leads to real learning and growth."

- Daniel H. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind and The Adventures Of Johnny Bunko

"Blake Boles has found the solution for those students who find regular high school oppressive. Outstanding advice! His book is absolutely right on about the many options for success for students who have a little different approach to life and study."

- Donald Asher, author of Cool Colleges For the Hyper-Intelligent, Self-Directed, Late Blooming, and Just Plain Different

" College Without High School is an excellent update to the groundwork provided by John Holt, the Colfaxes, Grace Llewellyn, and other unschoolers. I found it engaging and filled with concrete understanding and useful suggestions for Self Directed Learners of all ages, in or out of school."

- Cafi Cohen, author of And What About College?: How homeschooling leads to admissions to the best colleges and universities

" College Without High School is a fantastic resource for homeschoolers who want to stand out from the rest of the college admissions pack. However, especially for unschoolers and other eclectic learners, it is also an inspirational description for how adventurous self-directedlearning can lead to college admission. This is an entertaining workbook, how-to manual, and educational philosophy text that will help teenagers and their families figure out how to get into college without a conventional high school degree."

- Patrick Farenga, co-author of Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book of Homeschooling

About the Author

Blake Boles has worked extensively with teens outside the traditional high school environment. He designs and leads innovative trips through Unschool Adventures. He has worked in a variety of fields, and holds a self-designed BA in education theory from the University of California at Berkeley. He lives in Portland, OR